Centering tool



May 19, 1942. l. HAKKI GENTERING TooL Filed April l0, 1941 N VENTOR.

Patented May 19, 1942 'F y OFFIQE azsasee cEN'rnnrNo 'root` Ismail Hakki, New York, N. Y. Application April 1l), 1941, Serial No. 387,989

6 Claims.

rThis invention relates to new and useful improvements in center nding and marking devices, and relates Vmore particularly to a novel centering tool which may be used for easily, accurately and quickly determining the center of circular material and for marking such center.

Devices of this general characterhave been long in use, but such devices for themost part are not accurate, and the ones having a fair measure of accuracy are dilcult to manipulate. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device which requires no manipulation of levers, feed screws, or the like, and which may simply be placed over the end of the circular, hexagonal, square or other material, the parts instantaneously adjusted, and a pencil or an ordinary punch employed to mark the center of the material.

To this end the invention comprises a simple frame structure including a plurality of spaced, substantially square plates, one of which is provided Vwith a central aperture in which is inserted a conventional punch for the purpose of marking the center once such aperture has been properly positioned relative to the center. The secondY plate constituting the frame member is provided with av relatively large central aperture through which the round material is inserted and moved into engagement with the inner surface of the other square frame member. frame supports a plurality of pairs of extensible, substantially rectangular plates, the plates comprising each pair being movable relative to each other and are radially movable relative tothe small aperture in the iirst plate, each pair lying at an angle to the other pair.

Each rectangular plate is formed with a substantially centrally disposed Laperture which is preferably diamond shaped, two adjacent edges of which form jaw portions which engage the material at two points on its periphery. These plates which, as aforesaid, are movable relative to the frame, are initially positioned relative to such frame so that the diamond shaped apertures are in substantially the center ofthe frame. Then by grasping the terminals of each plate and moving the same outwardlyV away kfrom the frame, the frame structure iinds thecenter of the round material, and while so positioned a conventional punch may be inserted in the aperture in the iirst-mentioned plate and the center thus marked.

`Whereas in the preferred embodiment of the invention the extensible plates are formed with substantially diamond-shaped apertures, it is The also within the scope of the present invention to form square apertures, in which case the device may be used for finding the center of square as well as circular material.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 lisa side elevation thereof, partially in section.

Fig. 3 lis a longitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. l but shows certainof the parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the side of the device opposite to that shown in Fig. l, and showing a modified form 0f the invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rectangular plates.

Fig. 7 is a broken section showing a modified form of construction of the invention.

The frame structure comprises a pair of plates l0 and Il which are rigidly mounted relative to each other in spaced relation. Both of these plates, as Well as the elongated or rectangular plates, are made from relatively light gauge sheet metal, preferably aluminum. Plate lil is formed with a small, slightly tapered, centrally disposed aperture l2, and plate Il is formed with a large circular aperture I3. The two plates are mounted relative to each other in their spaced relationship by means oi specially formed screws l5 having threaded terminal portions I which pass through apertures (not shown) in each corner section of the plates, and which receive knurled circular nuts il. f

Each rectangular plate 20 is formed with a substantially diamond-shaped aperture 2l, two adjacent edges of which form jaw portions 22 (Fig. 6). Inasmuch as only two such adjacent edges are used at one time, the two oppositely disposed edges may be shaped otherwise if desired. The essential thing in forming aperture 2i is to provide at least two straight edges 22 which meet at a point 23, which is in alignment with aperture I2 in plate l0. By providing a plurality of pairs of the plates 2S, the plates of each pair having apertures with straight edges 22 which meet at point 23, which is in alignment with aperture I2, and mounting the second pair for longitudinal movement at right angles to the rst pair, it will be apparent that when the round material 25 is passed through aperture E3 in plate ll, through apertures 2| in movable plates 20, the plates 20 in each pair may be drawn outwardly and the center of the material is thus presented adjacent to aperture l2.

Screws l5 are desirably formed with enlarged portions 24 spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive two plates therebetween. The plates 20 are preferably formed with widened flanged end portions 26 which aid in manually moving each set of plates to extended position.

In the modied structure shown in Fig. 7, the special screw I5 shown in the preferred embodiment is eliminated, and a straight screw 30 having reduced threaded end portions (not shown) is provided. In other words, screw 30 has no shoulder portions 24, and accordingly the four superimposed plates 20 and frame members I0 and Il are in surface engagement with each other, thus making a somewhat lighter and more compact tool.

In Fig. 5 the apertures 2| are square rather than diamond-shaped, as in the preferred embodiment, and it will be accordingly apparent that when the apertures are so formed the device may be used for nding the center of square material as well as round material.

Whereas it is desired to provide the extensible plates 2D in pairs, in the manner shown, and to provide two of such pairs lying at substantially right angles to each other, it will nevertheless be appreciated that any other arrangement may be made whereby the edges 22 forming the jaw members meet at point 23 in alignment with the aperture I2 in plate I0.

What I claim is:

l. A center-finding tool comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, one having centerdesignating means associated therewith, and the other having an aperture therein to permit the material to be marked to pass therethrough and into substantial abutment with the inner surface of the first frame member, and means for centering the material relative to the center-designating means, comprising a plurality of centering elements slidably mounted in the frame at substantially right angles to each other, each element including a plurality of elongated, slidable plates having apertures therein forming edges for engaging the outer periphery of the material to center the same as the plates in each pair are shoved in opposite directions, and means for guiding the plates in their slidable movement comprising members connecting the frame members and engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates.

2. A center-finding device comprising a frame and a plurality of center-finding elements carried by the frame at substantially right angles to each other, said frame including spaced frame members, one having a substantially centrally disposed aperture for receiving a center-marking punch or the like, and the other having a larger aperture through which the material to be marked passes and into abutment with the inner surface of the first frame member, each centernding element comprising a pair of elongated plates slidably mounted in the frame and having apertures therein forming edges forengaging the surface of the material, and means for guiding the plates in their movement comprising a plurality of members connecting the frame members and having recesses for receiving the longitudinal edges of such plates, and preventing rotative movement of the plates relative to the frame.

3. A center-finding device comprising a frame and a plurality of center-finding elements carried'by the frame at substantially right angles to each other, said frame including spaced frame members, one having a substantially centrally disposed aperture in which a center-marking punch may be positioned, and the other having a larger aperture through which the material to be marked passes and into abutment with the inner surface of the rst frame member, each center-iinding' element comprising a pair of slidable, elongated plates mounted in the frame and having apertures therein forming edges for engaging the surface of the material, and means for guiding the slidable plates in their movement, comprising a plurality of pins connecting the frame members and engaging the longitudinal edges of such plates.

4. A center-nding tool for round or other shaped material and comprising a plurality of substantially fiat, spaced frame members, one having center-designating means associated therewith, and the other having an opening through which the material to be marked may pass, and into abutment with the first-mentioned frame member, and means for centering the material relative to the center-designating means, comprising a plurality of centering elements slidably mounted in the frame at substantially right angles to each other, each element including a plurality of elongated, slidable plates having apertures therein, at least two edges of such apertures being angularly disposed to each other and forming jaws for engaging the outer periphery of the material, and means for guiding the plates in their sliding movement comprising members connecting the frame members and cngaging the longitudinal edges of the plates.

5. A center-finding device for round or other shaped material and comprising a frame and a plurality of center-finding elements carried by the frame at substantially right angles to each other, said frame including substantially flat, spaced frame members, one of such frame members having a substantially centrally disposed aperture for receiving a center-marking punch or the like, and the other having an opening through which the material to be marked passes and into abutment with the inner surface of the first frame member, each center-Ending element comprising a pair of manually movable, elongated plates slidably mounted in the frame and having substantially diamond-shaped apertures therein forming edges for engaging the periphery of the material to center the same relative to the punch-receiving aperture, and means for guiding the slidable plates in their movement comprising a plurality of members connecting the frame members and engaging the longitudinal edges of such plates.

6. A center-finding tool comprising a pluarilty of spaced frame members, one having centerdesignating means associated therewith, and the other having an opening through which the material to be marked may pass, and into abutment with the first frame member, and means for centering the material relative to the centerdesignating means, comprising a plurality of centering elements slidably mounted in the frame at substantially right angles to each other, each element including a plurality of elongated, slidable plates having substantially square apertures therein forming edges for engaging the outer periphery of the material, and means for guiding the plates in their sliding movement comprising members connecting the frame members and engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates.

ISMAIL HAKKI. 

